PRIMETIME PILOT PANIC: 'Rockford Files' Is Now Dead At NBC

UPDATE: For those Deadline readers who suggested in the comments that Rockford Files should be reworked and put on USA. USA actually was pitched the idea for an updated Rockford about a year ago. It passed.

PREVIOUS: It’s been a stunning downfall for NBC’s update of the classic PI series, which only a month ago appeared as one of the few sure things this pilot season with its strong brand name, House creator David Shore as writer and Steve Carell as producer. The first signs of trouble came in the casting stage when it took a long time to cast the lead famously played by James Garner on the original series as several offers to A-list actors didn’t pan out. But feedback from the audition of Dermot Mulroney, who has strong improv background, was great, and the pilot, which co-starred Alan Tudyk and Beau Bridges, went underway with Michael Watkins at the helm. However, NBC was underwhelmed by the completed pilot. It then underwent major recutting, which was reportedly done by the editor of one of NBC’s top drama pilots this year, the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced Chase. But, while an improvement vs. the original cut, the new version of the pilot still didn’t impress NBC brass enough to muster a series order. Still, a redevelopment of the concept is a possibility.

75 Comments

I would have liked to see the product, but I think there is only one Jim Rockford and that’s James Garner.

Ted • on May 14, 2010 12:28 am

Would have LOVED to seen this with Josh Holloway in the JG role. Thought Dermot was poorly miscast.

Brad Nimmons • on May 14, 2010 6:02 am

VERY interesting choice in Josh Holloway, but I tend to agree with one of the original posts that James Garner is irreplaceable.

paige estock • on Dec 26, 2010 4:55 pm

I watched Rockford Files some and agree. My brother was a huge fan. I know he would agree James Garner was the only one for that part.

Jimmy • on May 14, 2010 6:15 am

Couldn’t agree more about the Dermot Mulroney casting; however, I when I first started reading about this joe Flanigan was the first person who popped in my head.

Lytton Strachey • on May 14, 2010 8:14 am

Good choice.
Flanigan carries the Anti-authority personality integral to Rockford’s persona and Kermit Mulroney does not.

Anthony • on May 14, 2010 7:45 am

I concur completely. Wonderful actor, wrong role.

Seren • on May 14, 2010 8:13 am

Absolutely. Joe Flanigan would have been perfect.

MADog • on May 14, 2010 10:04 am

YES! Josh Holloway…I co sign that!

Tonia • on May 14, 2010 12:37 am

With so many good pilots this season , NBC did the smart thing. Remakes usually bomb because they are never as good as the original people remember.Bionic Woman , Knight Rider, The Fugitive…
Why fix what’s not broken??

Jimmy Joe Meeker • on May 14, 2010 12:56 am

Hooray! As a die-hard fan of the original, I welcome this news, and urge those gunstermachers at NBC to create something NEW! Or we’ll sic Odette or Angel on them.

DM • on May 14, 2010 1:48 am

I am glad that this happened. I can never figure out why the classics have to be remade. Why didn’t
take the concept and update it? In other words have a character like Rockford but somewhat different. There will only be one Jim Rockford and that is James Garner. CBS did the same with Hawaii 5-0. Instead of keeping the formula and putting in new characters they recast the classic series. I mean who else could be McGarret but Jack Lord?

JJ Abrams Fan • on May 14, 2010 2:46 am

How is the JJ Abrams pilot for Undercovers? It’s seems to be getting great reviews from people who’ve seen it.

INterested Observer • on May 14, 2010 11:21 am

Re: Undercovers: the people who have seen it at this point are pretty much limited to WME and NBC insiders — give it a week or two when the more impartial reviews flood in.

And even the people who love it seem to be managing expectations somehwat — I keep hearing how “great looking” the show is with its two “gorgeous” leads. I’m not hearing how brilliant the writing is. But they will have their pick of the litter in terms of staff, so that’s a good thing.

With Rockford, I really hope David Shore doesn’t give up on development. It’s time for him to launch a new show already. He’s one of the best TV writers of the last ten years.

Tevin • on May 14, 2010 3:17 am

Josh Holloway would have been perfect.

anotherwgamember • on May 14, 2010 3:39 am

Sadly, the script hoovered. I have been hearing this for months now.

Elsie • on May 14, 2010 4:00 am

I am sorry for the lead actor not getting hired, but history proves itself over and over again–remakes never work. Would someone please let CBS know that and stop Hawaii before it hits the airwaves. They are so determined to put Alex O’Loughlin in a show that they are going to shove that remake down our throats. From what I read only a few people saw the pilot, so of course they say its red hot. Let a full size panel watch it and see how it fizzes.

Jackie Venice • on May 14, 2010 2:08 pm

I totally agree. Hawaii Five-O and Jack Lord were one and the same. IMO, you can’t have one without the other.

I like O’Loughlin but he is no Jack Lord.

Steve • on May 14, 2010 4:12 am

I’ve almost completed watching all the old ones on DVD again, and would loved to have seen this update. I think I would have enjoyed it on its own terms, and Dermot Mulroney seemed like a good choice.

Furious D • on May 14, 2010 4:22 am

I had this pegged to get the green-light and then sink in the ratings not because it was a good idea, it was a terrible idea, but because to a network exec it sounded like a good idea.

Remake a beloved show with a new cast is the sort of idea they wet themselves for. Except Rockford was a character custom made for James Garner, and Garner’s face is the one you think of when Rockford is mentioned.

Ironically, if they had decided to create a new character but along the same vein: low rent PI, eccentric supporting cast, interesting plots told in a laid back low key style, it might have sold.

zoner • on May 14, 2010 12:20 pm

i was thinking the same thing! they set up impossible expectations by taking on a remake.

Linda • on May 14, 2010 4:28 am

This news made my day!! Don’t ever mess with Rockford PLEASE!!!

atlanta • on May 14, 2010 5:44 am

I agree. There’s only been one Rockford, and Dermot Mulrony was not right for the part.

Smarg • on May 14, 2010 6:27 am

The good folks stopped watching mainstream media shows years ago. Too much filth for families. meh.

Beamer • on May 14, 2010 6:32 am

I read the script, it was total crap…. 5% of the wit and charm and cleverness of Cannell’s team, which included David Chase… How can anyone be surprised that TRFs sucks when the script is soooo weak…? Don’t blame the franchise, update and reshoot the original scripts with a decent actor and its a smash.

Olmstead Sows His Wild Oats • on May 14, 2010 7:06 am

Just so this death wasn’t isn’t laid to rest at the feet of the original editor–

Michael Watkins did “direct” the pilot. Love how directors crave their authorship until it a project doesn’t turn out the way they want, and then it’s the script’s fault, or the actor’s performance, etc…

But now in Watkin’s defense this project should have never been made. David Shore is too good for a reboot like this. CBS take notice — nobody wants a Hawaii 5-0 part deux Not even the pair who recently wrote it.

Troubled Shoot • on May 14, 2010 7:14 am

Knowing a number of people who were below-the-line that worked on the pilot the shoot was dysfunctional-the product proved it. To start without a completed script shoot with constant revisions
chaos reigns. To many young creative ambitiious producers all piling in with their own vision and egos-sounds like a receipe for
a bad cocktail. The end result proves it. Leave those great shows alone…they dont work in today’s view of the world. Create something new for christ sake.

Buddy Bing • on May 14, 2010 7:29 am

Maybe the pilot was okay but NBC Universal couldn’t figure out how to steal as much money from it as they did from the original.

David • on May 14, 2010 7:55 am

I would have watched the Josh Holloway version and it wouldn’t have sucked. Josh Holloway rules.

But there was no way in hell I was watching Dermot Mulroney, one of the most boring and drab actors around.

perplexed • on May 14, 2010 8:04 am

Bionic Woman – Horrible. It wasn’t canceled, it was euthanized.

Knight Rider – Canceled.

Rockford Files – a never was and I’m glad because it was entertainment blasphemy to even attempt a remake in the first place.

Is NBC so hard up for original material they have to go with decisions like Leno at 10pm 5 nights a week and all these remakes? I guess so.

INterested Observer • on May 14, 2010 11:22 am

Arguably NBCU’s two biggest creative successes of the last ten years have been House (David Shore) and Battlestar (remake) which is why this was a good bet for them.

Koop • on May 14, 2010 8:06 am

Good! Why can’t they come up with something original instead? I am so sick of NBC trying to remake classics. Jim Rockford isn’t Jim Rockford unless James Garner is playing him (and that’s no longer feasible) So why mess with it?

Flynnfan12 • on May 14, 2010 8:11 am

Everyone who faults the script are right on; it was horrible. If the script sucks, no actor can make it sing. As for 5-0, I only read an early draft, but the first seven minutes or so wasn’t even set in Hawaii! And it had all the usual cliches: McGarrett is now a former Navy Seal, he’s trying to avenge his Dad’s murder, Danny now has a dysfunctional family, blah blah blah. Which I think accurately sums up the show’s future ratings.

Rockford • on May 14, 2010 8:23 am

Weird. When I first heard they were doing this, I thought Josh Holloway. I guess that means he should do this type of pilot next year. Just don’t use the name “Rockford.”

Open Secret • on May 14, 2010 8:38 am

People who read and write for a living thought – David Shore or not – that the script sucked. This is less surprising than this site would have you believe.